Leader: Diane Harris 

Members: Liam Healy

Route: Allen Pond To Deale, A/B, 54 miles 

Weather: Beautiful, sunny, clear, breezy at times, temperatures from low 70s to mid 80s 

AMS: 13.2

Mechanicals/Mishaps: None

Report: Starting at Allen Pond in Bowie, we traveled the backroads of 3 counties (Prince George's, Anne Arundel, and Calvert) to get to one of my favorite rest stops, The South County Cafe in Deale, before returning to Prince George’s County. Along the way, we stopped at a farm for treats (an expensive granola bar!), rode along a fairly busy road with a very nice lane-width shoulder, past fields of corn, on one of my favorite roads (Leitch to Franklin Gibson), and enjoyed an iced coffee drink at the café. A perfect way to spend my Saturday! 

Leaders: Joan Oppel and Pat Walthers

Members: Ron Altemus, Debbie Bowman, Chantal Briere, Lou Dall'Orso, Karen McMillan, Denny Miller, Dave Van Ameyden, Pat Walthers

Route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/41603248

Weather: Nice day, beautiful clouds/sky, sunny, surprising wind on the return. Temperature in the 80s with moderate humidity

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  There was a slight mix up about the start time, so, by agreement, most of the group took off with the leader bringing up the rear and two riders joined up at the first rest stop at Scotts Store.

It was a lovely day for a bike ride and we all enjoyed the low traffic roads and relatively pleasant temperatures and humidilty.

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Peter S, Maureen F, Connie Q, Esther S, Mark G, Oswald M, Phillip M (guest), Robin G, Carl H, Gene V, Don G



Route: Indian Head Rail Trail, heading east from Livingston Rd parking lot to rest stop at White Plains trailhead, and then returning westward to ride start.

Weather:  cloudy giving way to partly sunny, temps starting in the mid 70s rising to just about 80, air movement out of the SW

AMS:  swept in the low 12s so figure others were faster

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  couple of non-regulars joined us today:  Joan returning to cycling after having a procedure or two and Oswald's son Philip with us during a visit with the 'rents.

Good number of other trail users varying from cyclists to couples walking to some baby strollers and one female bladester moving swiftly behind a bicyclist (thanks to a convenient handhold).

Wildlife sightings included deer, many types of turtles, eagle(s) on the nest near the ride start, numerous other birds, and a ~14" green snake.

• Leader: Lou Dall'Orso
  
  Members:  Chantal B, Joshua G, Connie Q,  Jackie S, Bob T.

  Guests:  none

  Route:  ridewithgps.com/routes/51730263

  Weather:  A nearly perfect weather day for a ride. Mostly sunny with a few white puffy clouds and light winds. almost 70 degrees at the start climbing to a comfortable near 80 towards the end.

  AMS:  14 to 15mph, maybe?....

  Mechanicals/Mishaps:  None, (other than my attempt at a group selfie at the Nanjemoy store).
  
  Report:   I was happy to see a good group of club members show up for the ride representing several classes.  I think everyone enjoyed the ride, and the group was never more than a few minutes apart, often within sight, regrouping at intersections and the rest stops. The route is essentially a big loop around Nanjemoy, and is well suited for mid summer rides as many of the roads are canopied and close to the water which help with the heat. I will be posting this (or a similar) ride weekly in the coming weeks. I encourage anyone interested to come on out, the pace will be tailored to the group that shows.

Leader:  Ellen Goodwin

Members:  Chantal Briere, Bob Thompson, Dave Van Ameyden, Josh Garrison, Ron Altemus

Report:  I really wanted to ride after volunteering at the Rural Legacy yesterday.  Wow it was a hot one. This was a 41 mile route starting from Pisgah Park, stopping at Goose Bay Marina, then the Nanjemoy Store.  Back to Pisgah Park via Mason Springs.  The group stayed together for the most part which was nice.  By the time we left the Nanjemoy Store everyone was hoping that the ride would end quickly as the temps rose to 95 degrees.  This is a pretty good route for a hot day as most of the ride is in the shade.  The rollers at the end on Mason Springs back to the park were fun and offered some welcome breezes!  Thanks to everyone who came out to ride today!

Mishaps:  None

What a GREAT PICNIC we had today!  361 Registered, 285 checked in + 45 volunteers, all thirsty and hungry.  That's a total of 330 folks who were hydrated and well fed. 

CO Chairs = Jessica Hirschhorn and Kathy King 

VOLUNTEERS (with whom this would NOT happen - thank you! ) 

Bruce Black, Gail Black , George Martin, Diane Harris, Lois Lightfoot, Sonja Newman, Linda Bankhart, Sara Clement, Walter Roscello, and Dennis Miller

We split into 3 shifts starting at 9:30 and ending at 2:30, but a lot of these amazing volunteers stayed for the whole time.  

Basing our logistics on previous picnics and extensive instructions, we set up tables, drinks, and hot coffee , and covered the tables with light blue gingham tablecloths. 

We served pickles/pickle juice, 5 kinds of sandwiches from NY Deli, chips, cookies from Costco, and juicy sweet watermelon.  

Drinks were water, gatorade, iced tea, lemonade, and hot coffee. 

And the riders kept coming.  And coming.  And eating.  And drinking.   Pretty soon we ran out of 3 kinds of sandwiches, leaving too many vegetarian and Italian combos.  We even ran out of PLATES, serving folks on paper towels.  They did not seem to mind, and stayed with their friends for a long time at the tables, in the shade, with a mild wind blowing.   

The afternoon shift were CRACK efficient, emptying garbage bags, clearing tables, collecting left over unopened food and produce for the local Food Bank as well as the local volunteer Fire Fighters, and packing everything up in Dennis Miller's pickup truck, to be taken back to the storage facility.  We were hoping that the gigantic pile of stuff did not fly off on the way. 

All in all, a very successful and well received picnic. 

Next year?  Order more GOTTI sandwiches and fewer  NY Yankees.  And bring more plates. 

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Jackie Schoch, Maureen Flynn, Peter Stelman, Debby Bowman, Connie Quickstad, Mark Garrison, Don Gardner, Gene Villiva, Carl Hattery



Route:  Indian Head Rail Trail, heading east from Livingston Rd parking lot to rest stop at White Plains trailhead, and then returning westward to ride start.

Weather:  Acceptable, thanks to the 9 am ride start.  Temps in the low 80s rising to the upper 80s under blue skies and warm to hot sunshine; 6-8 mph winds out of the west, and noticeable humidity but not sweat city.

AMS:  ride leader swept about 12ish.  Others were faster

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  Trail was underused today, possibly because of the forecast high temperatures or just maybe because we started an hour early.  Non-regular Friday rider Debby joined us and fell right into the conversational/social atmosphere of these rides.

Wildlife was in abundance slightly before ride start with the beaver pond just to the west of the parking lot entertaining seven (7) white herons/common egrets, three (3) great blue herons, and numerous turtles.  A few pedal strokes farther west, a large  snapping turtle lurked by the trail along with several small painted turtles.  Other birds included an immature eagle visible on the nest just past Livingston Road, and a Canadian Goose adult pair with eight (8) goslings, rapidly growing and now almost as big as their parents.  Connie's picture of same follows:

A simply glorious day on Kent Island.  

RIDERS:  Jessica Hirschhorn, Karen Dickey (she lives on Kent Island and is an Ironman Triathlete!  What a great addition to our club), Lynda Honberg, Ron Honberg, Renee McCullough. 

We did the usual 8 out 'n backs Octopus ride, plus an additional few miles to Metapeake Pier, a really beautiful landmark. 

Our small group stayed together, and enjoyed the water views, view of the Bay Bridge, Fishing Pier, Wedding Venue, and Crabber marina ("Bloody Point") with lighthouse. 

Total 40 miles. 

Weather was perfect and the sky was spectacular. 

Leader:  Ron Altemus

Members:  Bob Thompson, Chantal Briere, Ray Luckenbach, Gene Villiva, Lisa Oken, Patricia Sanders (enjoying the rocking chairs and view from the state park visitor center.)



Route:  casual tour of Mason Neck, starting with an out and back on Belmont Blvd with some of the group venturing down to the gate at the George Mason University Carter Center before retracing on Belmont Blvd.  Gunston Rd took us to the Mason Neck trail followed by a short spur on Springfield before rejoining the trail.  We left the trail at High Point Rd to head down to the Mason Neck State Park Visitor Center.  Retracing on High Point, we used Gunston Rd to tour the Hallowing Point and Gunston Manor neighborhoods and then back to the trail.  Gunston Hall and Pohick Bay Park were visited including a spin through the latter's campground.  Three hardy (masochistic?) souls rode down to the water and back up the hill.  We returned to the trail and then another out and back into the golf course before the final short stretch on Gunston Rd to the ride start.

Weather:  mostly sunny with occasional patches of white puffy clouds. tems starting in the mid 80s but only rising to the upper 80s, 7-9 mph air movement out of the NW, and, unfortunately an increase in humidity such that sweating occurred.

AMS:  12s

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  none

Report:  typical pleasant ride on Mason Neck with stretches of car free cycling along with short periods of more vehicles on the road.  This was Bob's first time riding this route so it was nice being able to introduce him to this part of Fairfax County.

Leader:  Dave VanAmeyden

Members:  Bob Thompson and Chantal Briere

Guests: Ginny and Reed Hoofnagle. One other from Potomac Pedalers.

Route: A rare "inside the beltway" ride that eschews the quiet and scenic Maryland rural routes for the excitement and bustle of the city and suburbs of Virginia.  We started in Arlington, riding up to Rosslyn and to McLean, down through Falls Church and into Springfield, then went around Lake Barcroft, and back up into Arlington to the St Katherine's Greek Orthodox Church, who were holding their annual Spring Greek Festival.  RWGPS tallied 1,868' of climbs.

Weather: Hot!  Started in the mid 70s and got up to 90 at the end. Next spring we may want to start the ride earlier if the weather forecast has this kind of heat.

AMS: 12mph, due to hills and many, many stops. 

Mechanicals/Mishaps:  One of our guests had trouble with their rear derailer limit stops.  About half-way through the ride, one the bolts from a cleat fell off.  Luckily, the route was about 1/3 of a mile from their house, and they broke off. 

Report: Started off well, making it through the hills of Arlington and McLean. The heat and sun started to impact us when we made our way through Falls Church. Traffic was not light but manageable. We stopped at a Giant grocery store instead of a gas station. (Photo by Karl Moritz)

We finally got to St. Katherine's by 1PM, but by that time we were hot and the lines for the food were long. The remaining riders had biked to the start and lived only a couple of miles away, so they went straight home from the church. The ride leader made his way back to the start, went home, and took a long nap.